Indicating mechanism fok clocks



INDICATING MECHANISM FOR CLOCKS Filed April 4, 1959 glvwe/Mm OTHNEZL G M/ZLLJAMS altoznu d Patented Aug. 12, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INDICATED- G MECHANISM FQR CLOCKS Application April 4, 1939, Serial No. 265,879

3 Claims.

This invention relates to clocks, and more particularly to a mechanism for indicating the length of time a clock has been running.

Clock manufacturers usually guarantee proper operation of their clocks and agree to make all repairs, without cost to the purchasers, for a specified period after the purchase of the clocks. However, the clocks are first sold or consigned to dealers or merchants who may have the clocks on hand for an indeterminable length of time before selling them to the ultimate purchasers. As a result, the clock manufacturers never know exactly when each clock was sold and how long it has been running in the event it is returned for repair or replacement under the terms of the guarantee. In numerous instances, purchasers damage clocks through their own carelessness after the guarantee period has expired, but seek to take advantage of the guarantee. The manu facturers cannot and do not dispute such spurious claims and make repairs which they are not obligated to make. The expense of these repairs is a loss to the clock manufacturers and for years has been a constant source of annoyance.

The present invention aims to overcome the above difficulties and objections by providing a simple, inexpensive mechanism for indicating when the clocks have been running beyond the guarantee period.

Another object is to provide an indicating 1 mechanism of the above type which is sturdy in construction, effective in operation, and can be accurately adjusted and reset by the clock manufacturers.

A still further object is to provide an indicating mechanism which warns the purchasers of the clocks that the clocks have been running prior to purchase thereof and that they will not get the full benefit of the guarantee.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of a portion of a clock mechanism and an indieating mechanism, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the clock and indicating mechanisms shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view,

illustrating indicating means on the face of the clock; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are diagrammatic perspective views, illustrating the operation of the indicating mechanism.

Referring to the drawing in detail, there is shown a portion of a clock comprising a front frame plate It and a back frame plate H held together in spaced relation by suitable pillars or sleeves I2. The plates support a spring drive mechanism comprising a main spring 14 coiled about a Winding shaft or arbor 15 carrying a main drive gear 16 operatively connected to the shaft for rotation in a clockwise direction by the usualpawl and ratchet. The drive gear meshes ith a lantern pinion I! which, in turn, rotates the usual time movement gear train (not shown).

The main drive gear [6 is adapted to operate an indicating member, about to be described, and for this purpose is provided on one side thereof, adjacent its outer periphery, with a laterally extending projection or pin 23. The pin is adapted to engage the teeth of a driven gear 2! and advance it in a clockwise direction one tooth at a time upon each revolution of the main drive gear. The driven gear 2| preferably is rotatably mounted on one of the pillars l2 and is frictionally retained against accidental movement by a spring plate 22 having resilient arms 24 engaging one side of the gear (Figs. 1 and 2). This arrangement also facilitates resetting the gear.

The driven gear 2| also has a laterally extending pin or projection 25 on one side thereof adjacent its outer periphery which is adapted to engage the teeth of an indicating gear 26 and move it one tooth at a time in a clockwise direction upon each revolution of the driven gear 2!. Preferably the indicating gear is mounted on and secured to a rotatable shaft or rod 21 supported by the front frame plate [0 and is frictionally held against accidental movement by a spring disc 29 intermediate the frame plate and a bushing 30 secured to the shaft (Fig, 2). The indicating gear is provided with a mutilated portion or recess 31 which is adapted to be moved into the path of the pin 25 on the driven gear 21 to render the pin 25 ineffective to further rotate the indicating gear.

In order to indicate when the clock has been running a greater length of time than the guarantee period, the speed of the drive gear and the gear ratio of the driven gear and indicating gear is such that the indicating gear moves into a position with the recess 3! in the path of the pin 25 approximately at the completion of the guarantee period. For example, if the clock is guaranteed for two thousand hours, the indicating gear may be rotated into its inefiective position by permitting the main drive gear to be rotated by the spring I4 once every six hours and by providing the driven gear with twenty-four teeth and the indicating gear with fourteen teeth. This gear ratio causes the indicating gear to be rotated into its ineffective position in a period of about two thousand sixteen hours. Thus, if the clock has been running that long or a greater length of time, the recess 31 will be located in the path of the pin 25 which serves to indicate that the guarantee period has expired. It will be understood that other suitable speed reduction gearing may be employed for moving the indicating gear into its indicating position in any other desired period of time.

If desired, a suitable casing 32 may be provided for the driven gear 2| and the indicating gear 25, and secured and sealed to the front frame plate I!) in a suitable manner to prevent dishonest purchasers from tampering with the indicating mechanism.

The indicator mechanism described herein may further be provided with visible indicating means preferably located on the face of the clock, as illustrated in Fig. 3. Such means may be provided by extending the rod or shaft 21, upon which the indicating gear 26 is mounted, through an aperture 35 in the dial or face 36 of the clock and by securing one end of an indicating arm or hand 37 thereto. The face of the clock is provided with suitable indicia, such as a spot 39, towards which the arm or hand is adapted to move. Preferably, the indicating gear 26 and the arm 31 are circumferentially arranged on the shaft 21 so that the arm 3'! registers with the spot 39 when the recess 3| of the gear 26 lies in the path of the pin 25. When the arm 3! is in this position it indicates that the guarantee period has expired. If the arm has already been moved towards the spot, the purchaser of the clock is warned that the clock has been running some time and that he will not get the full benefit of the guarantee period.

In Figs. 4 and the operation of the indicating mechanism is illustrated diagrammatically. When the parts of the clock movement have been assembled and the clock has been tested, the indicating gear 26 is set in a position so that the tooth 26A, adjacent the mutilated portion or recess 3!, is in the path of the pin 25 on the driven gear and will be engaged and advanced (Fig. 4). If so positioned, the mechanism is adjusted for the maximum guarantee period, but if desired, the indicating gear could be so positioned that one of the intermediate gear teeth 2513 would be the first to be engaged by the pin, thereby shortening the guarantee period. The visible indicating arm will then be circumferentially spaced from the spot 39 and will be adapted to travel a substantial distance before moved into registry with the spot.

When the clock is purchased and is put into operation the main drive gear I6 rotates and upon the completion of each revolution the pin advances the driven gear 2| one tooth at a time. The driven gear 2| in turn rotates and the pin thereon advances the indicating gear 25 one tooth at a time. As the clock continues to run, the gear 26 is gradually moved into a position with the recess 3| in the path of the pin (Fig. 5). Further movement of the indicating gear then ceases and the visible indicating arm will then have been moved into registry with the spot 39 on the face of the clock, indicating that the guarantee period has expired.

If, at any time, the clock should get out of order and is returned to the clock manufacturer for repairs, the indicating mechanism serves to indicate whether or not the guarantee period has expired. In the event that the guarantee period has expired, the manufacturer need not make the repairs because he is no longer obligated under the terms of the guarantee. However, if the guarantee period has not expired, Whatever repairs are necessary may be made and the indicating mechanism may be reset so that the purchaser will get the benefit of the balance of the guarantee period.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present invention provides an indicating mechanism for clocks which is constructed of a minimum number of parts, can be economically manufactured and assembled, and is effective in operation. The mechanism further may be protected against unauthorized resetting or tampering, is readily adjusted, is sturdy in construction, and will not get out of repair. The mechanism is adapted to be used in connection with clocks operated by springs, weights, or electricity, as well as watches 01' other horological instruments.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a clock, a drive mechanism for operating the time movement of the clock, an indicating gear, means for operatively connecting said gear to said drive mechanism, said gear having a mutilated portion for rendering said connecting means ineffective to rotate said gear when said gear has been moved into a predetermined position, and frictional means for preventing accidental movement of said gear and permitting resetting thereof.

2. In a clock, a drive mechanism for rotating the time movement of a clock, an indicating gear having gear teeth, a second gear operatively connected for rotation to said drive mechanism and having a projection for moving said indicating gear one tooth at a time upon each revolution of said projection, said indicating gear hav ing a mutilated portion for rendering said projection ineffective to rotate said indicating gear when said indicating gear has been moved into a position with the mutilated portion in the path of said projection, and frictional means for preventing accidental movement of said gears and permitting resetting thereof.

3. In a clock, a clock face having indicia thereon, a drive mechanism for operating the time movement of the clock, an arm on said clock face movable towards said indicia, a shaft for rotatably mounting one end of said arm, a gear mounted on said shaft, a second gear having a pro- J'ection for moving said first gear one tooth at a gear, said arm being positioned on said shaft to register with said indicia when said mutilated portion is in the path of the projection of said second gear, and frictional means for preventing accidental movement of said gears and permitting resetting thereof.

OTHNEIL G. WILLIAMS. 

